U.S.-Mexico officials gather in Downey for national convention

DOWNEY -- The Downey Sister Cities Association hosted the 53rd U.S.-Mexico Sister-Cities National Convention this past weekend. 

The convention started Friday night at Stay Gallery. Special guest state Sen. Tony Mendoza shared the importance of sister cities programs, and revealed that Pico Rivera has just signed a new sister cities agreement with Mazatlan. 

The convention continued Saturday at the Columbia Memorial Space Center, where there were a number of speakers on topics such as starting a new sister city and the “Sinking of Uribe 121,” about a sunken Mexican Navy patrol boat that is set to become an artificial barrier reef off the coast of Rosarito Beach. 

The evening finished with a president’s reception at the Embassy Suites, where the keynote speaker was a CBS/KCAL reporter who shared his own personal connection to the U.S.-Mexico sister cities program. 

Five students also received scholarships from the U.S.-Mexico sister cities program: Gordon Sodetani,and Brianna Obregon, both graduates of Warren High School; Shannon Louie, Monterrey Park; Brittany Barragan, Commerce; and Noemi Aranda, Baldwin Park.  

Pictured is Denise Juarez, president of Downey Sister Cities Association, and state Sen. Tony Mendoza.